Sputum-cup holder



D. R. BULLA SPUTUM CUP HOLDER June 8 1926.

Filed April 9, 1926 QMWMMQ M4; Q a/9%,

Patented June 8, 1926 UNITED STATES DANIEL It. BULLA, OF SOPHIA, NORTH CAROLINA.

SPUTU'M-CUP HOLDER.

Application filed Apr-i1- 9, 1926. Serial No. 100,853.

This invention relates to sputum cup holders of the pocket type shown in my Patent #1,518,302, dated December 9, 1924:, and has for its object to provide a holder of simplified construction and which is less expensive in manufacture than those heretofore known.

Another object of the invention resides in the construction which will facilitate the removal of the cup therefrom, and in which the cup may be released by a simple manipulation of a clip from the exterior of the holder thereby avoiding the necessity of placing the oper-ators hand within either i the holder or the cup.

A further object of the invention consists in so proportioning the parts that the holder may be more readily carried in the pocket, such designing of the holder also functioin ing to hold the-cup itself in tightly closed position.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the holder.

Figure 2 is a perspective view thereof in open position, and Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail the numeral 1 indicates generally the holder forming the present invention and which comprises the two symmetrical sections 2 and 3 hingedly connected at their lower edges by means of a hinge pintle l. These sections are normally biased to open position by 'n'ieans of springs 5 when the sections are released from control of the latch 6. This latch, which is of a conventional type is provided with a slot 7 for engagement with the head of a beveled rivet 8 secured to the section 2, and a finger piece 9 by which it may be manipulated.

Each of the symmetrical sections 2 and 3 is provided with a bulged portion 10 or 11 at its upper edge which reinforces this tapered upper edge of the particular section as well as provides an overhanging flange for each section whereby the holder is entirely closed at the top when the sections are shut.

lhe cup 12 which is shown in Figure 2 forms no part of the present invention and the particular cup illustrated is merely for the purpose of disclosing how the edges of a cup may be anchored to the sections of the holder. Each of the sections 2-and 3 is provided with two outwardly-pressed, longitudinally spaced ribs 13 and lt for the re oeptifon of cup engaging clips 15 and 16, mounted on rods 17 and 18 respectively. The rod 17 is fixed within its sleeves 131 1 by being soldered or otherwise secured thereto. The clip 15 on rod 17 is therefore maintained in; fixed relationship to the se,c-. ti n 3 and to a cup mounted in the holder. Rod 18 however is slidaloly mounted Within its sleeves 13- -1 and is limited in its upward movement by the enlargement 19. This clip 16 is to be raised upwardly as showi i in dotted lines in Figure 3, thereby releasing one edge of the cup 12.

In order to place a cup Within the holder the sections. 2 and 3 are swung about. their hinge 1 until in substantial alignment. A cup such as 12 may then he slid into the section 3 with one of its edges engaging under the clip 15. Ihe section 2 is then swung toward closed position with the clip 16 raised as shown in dotted lines. When in contact with the wall of the cup the operator may gra'sp that part of rod 18 which lies on the exterior of section 2 between the ribs 13 and 1 k and slide the hook,

downwardly until it engages over the edge of the cup in the same manner as the clip 15. The sections 2 and 3 may be now entirely closed and locked by means of the latch o. In this position the mouth of the cup 12 is caused to be closed due to the close proximity of the walls of the sections 2 and 3 which as will be observed are inclined towards each other at the upper end of the holder. Upon releasing the latch to use the cup, the springs 5 will cause the sections 2 and 8 to swing open and in doing so they will spread the cup 12 open to the clips 15 and 16 which are in engagement with the upper edges thereof.

To remove a cup after use, it is only necessary that the operator grasp the rod 18 between the ribs 13 and 1 1 and raise the same so as to disengage the clip 16 from the upper edge of the cup. The section 2 may now be swung into alignment with section 3 and the cup slid downwardly out of engage ment with clip 15 and discarded.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it will be observed that I have devised a very simple and inexpensive sputum cup holder of the pocket type; that due to its tapered shape it will readily hold the mouth of a cup closed and is also easily carried about in the pocket of the user; and that due to the arrangement of the cup engaging clips, a cup may be readily inserted and removed without the necessity of the operator placing his hand within the cup or even within the mouth of the holder.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described what I now believe to be the best embodiment of the invention, but I do not wish to be understood thereby as limiting myself to the scope of the invention, as many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention: all such I aim to include in the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A cup holder including two hinged sections, a clip secured to one of said sections for engaging-anedge of a cup, and a clip movably mounted on the other section and adapted to bemoved to engage another edge of said cup.

2. A cup holder including two hinged sections, means on the inside of one section for engaging an edge of a cup mounted within the holder, and a slidably-mounted clip on the other section adapted to be moved into engagement with another edge of said cup.

3. A cup holder including two hinged sections, means on one section for engaging an edge of a cup mounted within the holder, a slidably-mounted rod on the other section and a hook-shaped clip on the end of said rod adapted to engage another edge of said cup.

4. A cup holder including two hinged sections, means on one section for engaging an edge of a cup mounted within the holder, :1 slidably-mounted clip on the interior of the other section and having a portion extending to the exterior thereof, whereby the lastnamed clip may be operated from the outside of the holder to either engage or dis engage an edge of the cup.

5. A cup holder including two hinged sections, means on one section for engagingan edge of a cup mounted within the holder, a pair of longitudinally spaced ribs on the exterior of the other section, a rod slidably mounted in said ribs and having its intermediate portion exposed, and a clip carried by the upper end of said rod.

D. R. BULLA. 

